FINAL REPORT
PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
HAMILITON CREEK IR #7, Lower Nicola Indian Band Merritt, British Columbia
Prepared for
Lower Nicola Indian Band 181 Nawishaskin Lane Merritt, B.C. V1K 0A7
Submitted by
Columbia Environmental Consulting Ltd. RR#2, Site 55, Compartment 10 Penticton, BC. V2A 6J7
Project No: 10-0374 April, 2011
RR#2, Site 55, Compartment 10 Penticton, BC. V2A 6J7
April 30, 2011
Lower Nicola Indian Band 181 Nawishaskin Lane Merritt, B.C. V1K 0A7
Attention: John Keating and Sharon Parsons, LNIB Lands and Leasing Office
Subject: Final Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the Hamilton Creek IR #7, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Merritt, BC.
We trust that this report meets your present needs. One hard copy of the final report and a CD-ROM including the source files and an Adobe pdf version have been provided. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions or comments, or if you require anything further.
Yours truly, Columbia Environmental Consulting Ltd.
Per: Dwight Shanner, R.P.Bio Project Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Columbia Environmental Consulting Ltd. (Columbia) was contracted by the Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB) on behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the Hamilton Indian Reserve #7, herein referred to as the “Site”.
The first step in site characterization is to conduct a Phase I ESA. During this phase, information is gathered about site layout and previous activities and/or operations that may have caused contamination at the Site.
The Phase I ESA consisted of the following: records review; interviews with regulatory officials and personnel knowledgeable about the Site; site reconnaissance; and information evaluation and preparation of the report provided herein.
The Phase I ESA was conducted as per the requirements of the CSA document Z768-01 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, April 2003. The Phase 1 ESA focused on preliminary areas of interest identified through historical document review, and interviews. In general, all residential structures were excluded unless information was gathered to suggest contamination or external visual observations indicated potential contamination. Specific residential structures listed for inspection at the request of the First Nation or INAC require the permission from the First Nation and the Certificate of Possession holder.
Hamilton Creek IR#7 is an irregular shape (roughly rectangular) and is 4400 acres in size and located 17 km east of Merritt, BC. Coordinates for the Site are zone 10 675263E, 5553074N on NTS map sheet 092I02. The reserve includes a Cabin (with wood heating and no utilities) and outhouse, and cattle range the current land use categorized as wild lands and agricultural. The Cabin is a non-permanent residence with a propane tank utilized for cooking fuel.
Interviewees included elders, the lands department, and the residents from the LNIB familiar with the reserve. Interviews with LNIB members had no concerns. No commercial development is on the reserve and therefore there were no environmental concerns.
No on-site APECs were identified during this investigation. No further environmental assessment is recommended for the Site at this time.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 OBJECTIVE...... 1 1.2 SITE BACKGROUND ...... 1 2.0 SCOPE OF WORK ...... 1 3.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 2 3.1 RECORDS REVIEW ...... 2 3.2 INTERVIEWS ...... 2 3.3 SITE VISIT ...... 2 4.0 HISTORICAL RECORDS REVIEW ...... 2 4.1 RECORDS REVIEW ...... 2 4.1.1 REVIEW OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS...... 3 4.1.2 CITY DIRECTORIES ...... 4 4.1.3 MERRIT FIRE DEPARTMENT ...... 4 4.1.4 HISTORICAL TITLE SEARCH ...... 4 4.2 AGENCY REVIEW ...... 4 4.2.1 LOWER NICOLA INDIAN BAND ...... 4 4.2.2 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ...... 4 4.2.3 MINISTRY OF TOURISM ...... 5 4.2.4 BC MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT – SITE REGISTRY ...... 5 4.2.5 CITY OF MERRITT ...... 5 4.2.6 MERRITT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES ...... 5 4.2.7 THE THOMPSON NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT ...... 6 4.2.8 TERASEN (FORMERLY BC GAS) ...... 6 4.2.9 FORTIS BC (FORMERLY BC HYDRO) ...... 6 4.3 PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ...... 6 4.4 INTERVIEWS ...... 6 5.0 SITE DESCRIPTION ...... 7 5.1 GENERAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ...... 7 5.2 TOPOGRAPHY ...... 7 5.3 GEOLOGY...... 7 5.4 SURFACE DRAINAGE ...... 8 5.5 CLIMATE DATA ...... 8 5.6 UTILITIES ...... 8 5.7 ADJACENT PROPERTIES ...... 8 5.8 VALUED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS (VECS) ...... 9 5.9 WATER WELLS...... 9 5.10 HISTORICAL LAND USE ...... 9 5.11 REGULATORY HISTORY ...... 10
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 ii
6.0 FINDINGS ...... 10 6.1 FUEL / CHEMICAL HANDLING AND STORAGE ...... 10 6.2 SOLID WASTE MATERIALS ...... 10 6.3 SPILLS AND STAIN AREAS ...... 10 6.4 WASTEWATER DISCHARGE ...... 10 6.5 AIR DISCHARGES ...... 10 6.6 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB) ...... 10 6.7 ASBESTOS ...... 11 6.8 HEAVY METALS ...... 11 6.10 NOISE ...... 11 7.0 AREAS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN ...... 11 8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 11 9.0 REPORT USE AND LIMITATIONS ...... 12 10.0 PROFESSIONAL STATEMENT ...... 13 11.0 REFERENCES ...... 14
FIGURES
Figure 1 Site Location Figure 2 Site Plan
TABLES (in report)
Table A. Air Photo Review Summary ...... 3 Table B. Summary of Information Obtained from Interviewees ...... 6 Table C. Climate Values for 1971-2000 ...... 8 Table D. Precipitation Monthly Values for 1971-2000 ...... 8 Table E. Summary of Fuel Storage Tanks ...... 10
APPENDICES
Appendix A Figures Appendix B BC Online Site Registry Search Results Appendix C Correspondence Appendix D Aerial Photographs Appendix E Potential Species at Risk
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 iii
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Columbia Environmental Consulting Ltd. (Columbia) was contracted by the Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB) on behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the Hamilton Creek Indian Reserve #7, herein referred to as the “Site”.
The Site is located on Mill Creek road, approximately 17 km east of Merritt B.C., on 1:50,000 NTS mapsheet 092I02. The Site’s geographic position relative to the surrounding features is shown on Figures 1 and 2 included in Appendix A.
The Phase I ESA follows procedures outlined in the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) document Z768-01 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, April 2003. This report will be used in making decisions concerning whether further investigation is necessary. John Keating and Sharon Parsons (LNIB Lands and Leasing Office) provided written authorization for the project.
1.1 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Phase I ESA is to identify and document any actual or potential human health or environmental risks associated with the Site and provide recommendations for further assessment and/or risk management. The “Areas of Potential Environmental Concern” (APECs), with their associated “Contaminants of Potential Concern” (COPC), and the person or agencies that may be responsible for causing the contamination define these risks.
1.2 SITE BACKGROUND
The Hamilton IR#7 is comprised of approximately 4400 acres on one reserve. The reserve is irregular but approximately rectangular in shape, and is located approximately 17 km east of Merritt B.C. Coordinates for this Site area are 10 675263E, 5553074N. The Site, at the time of the report, contained one active farm residence that has barns, outbuildings, range land, and crop fields.
2.0 SCOPE OF WORK
The first step in site characterization is to conduct a Phase I ESA. During this phase, information is gathered about site layout and previous activities and/or operations which may have caused contamination at the Site.
The Phase I ESA consisted of the following:
records review; interviews with regulatory officials and personnel knowledgeable about the Site; site reconnaissance; and information evaluation and preparation of the report provided herein.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 1
The Phase I ESA was conducted as per the requirements of the CSA document Z768-01 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, April 2003.
The Phase 1 ESA focused on preliminary areas of interest identified through historical document review, and interviews. In general, all residential structures were excluded unless information was gathered to suggest contamination or external visual observations indicated potential contamination. Specific residential structures listed for inspection at the request of the First Nation or INAC require the permission from the First Nation and the Certificate of Possession holder.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 RECORDS REVIEW
Records included a search for previous environmental reports, historical aerial photographs, city directories, fire insurance maps, federal and provincial agency review, Lower Nicola Indian Band records, and regional district records. The applicable search distance for the records review included the property, properties immediately adjacent to the Site, and other properties (as identified by aerial photographs, etc.) where the potential for environmental contamination to impact the Site was apparent (i.e. petroleum product storage in the immediate area). A reference of personal communications is included at the end of this report in Section 11.
3.2 INTERVIEWS
Interviews with persons knowledgeable about the Site were carried out to obtain or confirm information on the environmental characteristics of the property and historical use. Information provided by interviewees is detailed in Section 5, and included throughout the report. Dwight Shanner and Carmen Marshall from Columbia Environmental conducted the interviews on September 14, 2010.
3.3 SITE VISIT
A site visit was not conducted at this reserve as it was not deemed warranted by the assessor given the undeveloped nature of the Site and the absence of environmental concerns identified during the records review and interviews.
4.0 HISTORICAL RECORDS REVIEW
4.1 RECORDS REVIEW
An outline of the history of land use on the subject property and adjacent properties was compiled though the review of the variety of information sources. These typically include historical records and a review of files retained by regulatory agencies, however; the following standard sources of information were not available:
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 2
• Fire insurance drawings; • City/Business directories; and • Historical Title search. For the historical uses of the property, aerial photographs dating back to 1948, interviews, web searches, LNIB archives, and previous reports supplied by INAC were reviewed. A list of sources and references for the records review is provided in Section 11. The BC online Site Registry search results can be found in Appendix B. Correspondence can be found in Appendix C and examples of historical aerial photographs can be found in Appendix D. A list of Species at Risk potentially in the Site area can be found in Appendix E.
4.1.1 REVIEW OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
Aerial photographs dated 1948, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1991 from the University of British Columbia’s Geographic Information Centre (UBC GIC) were reviewed for information about land use at the subject property and adjacent lands. Copies of representative aerial photographs are included in Appendix D. Site details from the aerial photograph interpretation is briefly described below in the following table:
Table A. Air Photo Review Summary
Aerial photo Description Year Subject Property: Quilchena Creek runs from south to the north through the reserve. No visible signs of development on the reserve. Nicola Lake is situated approximately 5 km meters north of the reserve. 1948 Adjacent Lands. Adjacent lands are undeveloped.
Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1960 Adjacent Lands: No visible changes are noted.
Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1966 Adjacent Lands: No visible changes are noted.
Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1972 Adjacent Lands: Cleared vegetation for a transmission line is visible northwest of the reserve. Agricultural usage of land is visible at the outlet of Nicola Lake.
Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1974 Adjacent Lands: Highway 5 (Coquihalla) southbound is visible approximately 14.0 km west of the reserve. Logging is visible in surrounding lands.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 3
Aerial photo Description Year Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1980 Adjacent Lands: Logging is visible in surrounding lands.
Subject Property: No visible changes are noted.
1991 Adjacent Lands: Logging is visible in surrounding lands. Highway 97C (Princeton- Kamloops Highway) is present 5 km south of the reserve.
4.1.2 CITY DIRECTORIES
The Merritt Public Library was contacted in regards to any historical directories. City/Business directories were not available for the reserve.
4.1.3 MERRIT FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Merritt Fire Department was contacted regarding any historical information. No fire records were obtained pertaining to Hamilton Creek IR#7.
4.1.4 HISTORICAL TITLE SEARCH
A historical title search was not considered relevant for this project, as the subject property has remained in the authority of the federal government since its inception as a reserve.
4.2 AGENCY REVIEW
Columbia contacted federal, provincial, regional, and municipal agencies to identify actual or potential environmental contamination issues on or near the subject Site. The following sections of the report present the findings of the regulatory review conducted for the subject property.
4.2.1 LOWER NICOLA INDIAN BAND
The one residence on the Site is wood heated with no utility services. Therefore no utilities maps have been created for the Site.
4.2.2 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The INAC Environmental Management System database, IEMS (formerly ESSIMS), had no records for the Site.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 4
4.2.3 MINISTRY OF TOURISM
The Ministry of Tourism’s Archeology branch was contacted regarding any records that may exist for the Site. No records were found for the Site, however two records were indentified, located off-site north of the reserve. There is no archeological overview data available for the area at this time.
4.2.4 BC MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT – SITE REGISTRY
The contaminated sites provisions under the Environmental Management Act (Formerly the Waste Management Act) and Contaminated Sites Regulations, effective April 1997, require the Province to provide public information about site investigations and cleanups. The Site Registry has been established to meet this requirement. The Site Registry documents milestones in the site assessment process and provides public access to this information. It contains information regarding which sites have been investigated and/or remediated since MoE began recording this activity. The Site Registry is not a registry of only contaminated sites; it also includes sites for which a Site Profile has been submitted.
The online version of the Site Registry database searches for records of sites within a 5 kilometer radius of the subject property. The Site Registry has been collecting data only since its inception in April 1997, and not all sites of known or potential contamination within the search area may have been captured. Therefore, the searches cannot be considered a definitive method of identifying all sites of potential contamination within the search area. The Site Registry search results are presented in Appendix B and are summarized below:
Subject Property According to the BC Online search there were no records in the Site Registry for the subject property.
Adjacent Properties According to the BC Online search there were no records in the Site Registry for the adjacent properties when a 5 km radius search was completed using the center of the reserve as the search center.
4.2.5 CITY OF MERRITT
Sean O’Flaherty of the City of Merritt was contacted requesting any information regarding environmental or contamination issues or building permits for the lands of LNIB. The City has no records regarding the subject property and adjacent lands, and do not maintain any such records for facilities operating on Reserve Lands.
4.2.6 MERRITT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
The Museum of Merritt was contacted via phone. The Museum did a search within LNIB lands, with no records found for the Hamilton Creek IR# 7.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 5
4.2.7 THE THOMPSON NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT
Peter Hughs of the environmental department of the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) was contacted requesting any information regarding environmental issues on or near LNIB lands. Mr. Hughs stated that the district has no records regarding the subject property and do not maintain any such records for facilities operating on reserve lands.
4.2.8 TERASEN (FORMERLY BC GAS)
Toni Melliere of Terasen Gas was contacted regarding service connections to the subject property including any current or historical issues that are likely to have resulted in environmental impacts on the Site. Terasen has no record of environmental issues that may have occurred on the subject property or adjacent properties. Terasen does not keep records pertaining to service initiations and decommissions as a standard company policy.
4.2.9 FORTIS BC (FORMERLY BC HYDRO)
Louise Ouelett of Transmission Distribution and Environment at Fortis BC was contacted regarding the presence of service connections to the subject property including any current or historical issues that are likely to have resulted in environmental impacts on the Site. Fortis has no record of environmental issues or transformer locations (possibly containing PCBs) that may have occurred on the subject property or adjacent properties.
4.3 PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
No previous environmental investigation reports were identified for the Site.
4.4 INTERVIEWS
Interviewees included: Marvin Shuter, Willie Basil Francis Shuter, Delia Shuter, Ira Sterling, Maggie Shuter, Harold Joe, Gloria and Geoff Sam. Interviews with LNIB members identified the following concerns:
Table B. Summary of Information Obtained from Interviewees
Area of Location Description Concern East of No permanent housing. Poor roads. Gloria and Geoff Sam Hamilton Highway 5 have a house and information on the Reserve. Creek #7 South of House is a cabin with barns and outbuildings. No Nicola Lake environmental concerns were noted.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 6
5.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
5.1 GENERAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
The Lower Nicola Indian Band is comprised of ten reserves that total 17,500 acres. Nine reserves are located within the Merritt area and the most northern parcel (Hihium IR #6) is located approximately 65 km northwest of the city of Kamloops B.C.
Hamilton Creek IR#7 is an irregular shape (roughly rectangular) and is 4400 acres in size and located 17 km east of Merritt, BC. Coordinates for the Site are zone 10 675263E, 5553074N on NTS map sheet 092I02. The reserve includes a Cabin (with wood heating and no utilities) and outhouse, and cattle range the current land use categorized as wild lands and agricultural. The Cabin is a non-permanent residence with a propane tank utilized for cooking fuel.
5.2 TOPOGRAPHY
LNIB Hamilton Creek IR#7 is located on the west bank of the Quilchena Creek valley. Most of the reserve is situated on the north south trending river valley wall that is sloped down to the east and is part of Mount Nicola. Quilchena Creek flows from the south toward the northern boundary of the reserve, along the eastern edge of the Site. Teenamilsts Creek flows from the west down gradient and east into Quilchena Creek along the northern portion of the Reserve. The Site is located approximately 900m above sea level with 300 m of relief ranging from 1000m on the western border of the reserve to 700m along the Quilchena Creek bed in the northeast portion of the reserve.
5.3 GEOLOGY
The local geology within the Hamilton Creek IR#7 is comprised of three north south trending belts. The westernmost belt and top of valley bank is composed of the Nicola Group – Central Volcanic Facies in the intermontana belt. The formation is part of the Quesnel Terrane, and is comprised of andesitic volcanic rocks and dioritic intrusive rocks including intermediate pyroclastics and local pillowed and plagioclase porphyry flows, and diorite, quartz diorite, and gabbro. The central belt (Quilchena valley Wall) is part of an unnamed formation of alkaline volcanic rocks. The formation is in the intermontana belt, and is a younger volcanic terrane with rock types including alkali olivine basalt flows, hyaloclastite, and breccia. The easternmost belt (Quilchena Creek bed) is part of the Princeton Group formation, comprised of undivided sedimentary rocks including sandstone, conglomerate, argillite, and coal (including the Coldwater beds, and Allenby formation). The Princeton Group is an Overlap Terrane in the intermontana belt (Ministry of Energy, Mines, & Resources, 2011).
Bedrock throughout the reserve is covered with a till blanket of varying thickness made up of primarily unconsolidated compositions of silts, sands, gravels, and cobbles. Soils throughout the Site generally consists of dark brown chernozems, typical of southern interior grasslands or grey luvisols, typical of the grassland-forest transition zone (Ministry of Energy, Mines, & Resources, 2011).
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 7
5.4 SURFACE DRAINAGE
Surface drainage at the Site is anticipated to be primarily infiltration into the underlying soils. Surface runoff is anticipated to flow down gradient from the west to the east, toward and into Quilchena Creek, which drains into Nicola Lake to the North.
5.5 CLIMATE DATA
The tables below provide climate values and monthly precipitation values as collected at Merritt B.C. Metrological Station, based on data from 1971 to 20001. The average annual precipitation is 322.2 mm.
Table C. Climate Values for 1971-2000
Meteorological Station Elevation: 609.0m Daily Mean Temperature: 7.4ºC Annual Rainfall: 238.9mm Annual Precipitation: 322.2mm Highest Monthly Average Precipitation: Dec, 39.6mm Lowest Monthly Average Precipitation: April, 14.5mm
Table D. Precipitation Monthly Values for 1971-2000
Month Average Month Average Month Average Precipitation Precipitation Precipitation (mm) (mm) (mm) January 37.2 May 26.8 September 23.6 February 23.6 June 34.1 October 23.5 March 16.6 July 25.8 November 34.7 April 14.5 August 22.1 December 36.9
5.6 UTILITIES
No utilities such as septic services, underground water or overhead electrical power are reported at the Site.
5.7 ADJACENT PROPERTIES
The adjacent lands surrounding the Site remain in an undeveloped state. Two power transmission lines are located adjacent to the northwest corner of the Site, and one single power
1 www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 8
transmission line is located to the east of the Site. The Princeton Kamloops Highway is located 14 km west and Highway 97C is located 5 km south of the Site.
5.8 VALUED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS (VECs)
The Site is located on the floodplain of Quilchena Creek, in Bunchgrass and Interior Douglas Fir (IDF) biogeoclimatic zones south of Nicola Lake. Representative trees in this ecosystem include Douglas fir, trembling aspen, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, hybrid spruce, Rocky Mountain juniper. Shrubs for the area include species such as snowberry, common juniper, Saskatoon, Kinnikinnik, red osier dogwood, black gooseberry, prickly rose and false box. Herbs common to the area include bluebunch wheatgrass, pinegrass, wheatflower, bunchberry, yarrow, sedges (spp) and spike rushes to name a few (Ministry of Forests 1991).
A list of species from the BC Conservation Data Center (CDC) search, indicating species found within the area has been included in Appendix E. Characteristic wildlife in the region (CDC) include, but is not limited to, moose, mule deer, black bear, cougar, elk, grizzly, eagle, big horn sheep, badger, coyote, wolf, marmot, raven, spruce grouse, and various waterfowl.
A number of species potentially on the Site are considered Species at Risk by COSEWIC2 and receive special protection for critical habitats. Provincially, red listed (being considered for designation as threatened or endangered) or blue listed (considered vulnerable) species, by the BC Ministry of the Environment, means that they require special management attention. The semi-pristine natural lands within the area of the Site are favorable for Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed species habitat. A biological inventory would be required to further investigate the potential presence of Species at Risk.
5.9 WATER WELLS
The BC MoE water well database3 was searched in a 5 km radius from the center of the Site. No wells were identified within the 5km radius. Two (2) off-site down gradient wells were identified 8km to the north of the Site near Nicola Lake, with usage identified as unknown and private domestic and belonging to Sage Brush Golf and Sports located on Quilchena Creek Road.
5.10 HISTORICAL LAND USE
Hamilton Creek IR#7 historically has been utilized as wild lands and a cattle range. Hunting, fishing and gathering were, and are, traditional uses of the Reserve land. The adjacent lands are utilized for logging and transportation on Highway 5 and 97C.
2 COSEWIC means the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
3 Ministry of Environment. 2010. Water Resource Atlas Web Mapping Application http://www.env.gov.bc. ca/wsd/data_searches/wrbc/index.html
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 9
5.11 REGULATORY HISTORY
No previous notations from regulatory agencies were identified for the subject property.
6.0 FINDINGS
6.1 FUEL / CHEMICAL HANDLING AND STORAGE
The residents informed Columbia through a phone conversation that a propane tank is on the Site. Details regarding the tank are in the following table.
Table E. Summary of Fuel Storage Tanks
Location # Capacity Contents Active Condition (Site ID)
Propane Tank- In good condition based on owners assurance 1 Hamilton IR #7 100 lb Propane Yes and used for cooking
6.2 SOLID WASTE MATERIALS
There is no municipal method of solid waste disposal for the Site. The on-site residence reportedly removed the solid waste generated.
6.3 SPILLS AND STAIN AREAS
No surface stains or debris were identified by the cabin owner or those interviewed regarding the site condition.
6.4 WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
No concerns with regard to wastewater discharge were identified during the records review process or conversation with the resident. The residence has an outhouse for septic.
6.5 AIR DISCHARGES
No concerns with regard to air quality discharge were identified during this investigation.
6.6 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB)
There were no records of PCB containing transformers or capacitors on the Site. No environmental concerns regarding PCBs were suspected during this investigation.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 10
6.7 ASBESTOS
The use of friable asbestos as a building material was banned in the U.S. in the mid 1970s. The manufacture of building materials containing asbestos was generally phased out in North America by the mid 1980s. The on-site cabin was built sixty (60) years ago and insulation was installed in the ceiling in 1972 (per. comm. with resident). The potential for asbestos is possible considering the age of the buildings. Hazardous building materials inspections were not within our scope of work and the cabin is still in use as a private residence.
6.8 HEAVY METALS
There were no sources of potential metals impacts identified.
6.9 OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (ODS)
No environmental concerns relative to ODS were identified.
6.10 NOISE
No environmental issues concerning noise were identified during this investigation.
7.0 AREAS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
No on-site or off-site APECs were identified during this investigation.
8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
No further environmental assessment is recommended for the Site at this time.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR #7 11
9.0 REPORT USE AND LIMITATIONS
This Phase I ESA report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the LNIB, and it is intended to provide the client with an understanding of the potential for environmental contamination by hazardous materials at the property assessed. The scope of services performed in execution of this investigation may not be appropriate to satisfy the needs of other users, and any use or re-use of this document or the findings, conclusions, or recommendations presented herein is at the sole risk of said user. The findings and recommendations in this report are based upon data and information obtained during site visits by Columbia and INAC personnel to the Site identified herein and the condition of the Site on the dates of such visits, supplemented by information and data obtained by Columbia described herein.
The findings and recommendations contained in this report are based on the expertise and experience of Columbia in conducting similar site assessments. In assessing the Site, Columbia has also relied upon representations and information furnished by individuals noted in the report with respect to existing operations and property conditions and the historical uses of the properties to the extent that the information obtained has not been contradicted by data obtained from other sources. Accordingly, Columbia accepts no responsibility for any deficiency, misstatements or inaccuracy contained in this report as a result of misstatements, omissions, misrepresentations or fraudulent information provided by others.
It should be recognized that this study was not intended to be a definitive investigation of contamination at the Site. Given that the limited scope of services for this assessment as stated in the Terms of Reference for the Phase I ESA, it is possible that currently unrecognized contamination may exist at the Site and, if present, that the levels of contamination may vary across the Site. Opinions and recommendations presented herein apply to site conditions existing at the time of our assessment and those reasonably foreseeable. Should environmentally significant changes to the Site or additional information become available, Columbia should be provided the opportunity to review this information/data and amend our opinions, as appropriate. Fungi, mycotoxins, bioaerosols and other indoor air quality issues were not included in the scope of work.
Columbia’s objective is to perform our work with care, exercising the customary thoroughness and competence of earth science, environmental, and engineering consulting professionals, in accordance with the standard for professional services at the time and location those services are rendered. It is important to recognize that even the most comprehensive scope of services may fail to detect environmental liability on a particular site. Therefore, Columbia cannot act as insurers and cannot “certify” or “underwrite” that a site is free of environmental contamination, and no expressed or implied representation or warranty is included or intended in our reports, except that our work was performed, within the limits prescribed by our client, with the customary thoroughness and competence of our profession.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR# 7 12
10.0 PROFESSIONAL STATEMENT
The information compiled for this document has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the INAC Scope of Work.
Columbia certifies that the persons signing this document have demonstrable experience in the assessment of commercial and industrial sites. The work has been performed by Columbia staff under the guidance and supervision of the signatories below.
Report prepared by: COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING LTD.
______Summer Zawacky, B.Sc. Carmen Marshall, B.Sc. Field Supervisor Field Assessor
______Dave Diplock, P.Eng. Dwight Shanner, R.P.Bio. Report Review Project Manager
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR# 7 13
11.0 REFERENCES
Aerial Photographs dated 1948, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1991 from the University of British Columbia’s Geographic Information Center (UBC GIC)
BC Online Site Registry Search . 5 km radius from the center of the reserve.
Canadian Standards Association. 2001. Z768-01 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
CCME. 2001 Canada Wide Standards (CWS) for Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHC) in Soil. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
CCME. 2004. Canadian Environmental Quality Guideline. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Conservation Data Center (CDC), 2011. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. BC Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/ Accessed September 2010
Environment Canada. 2010. National Climate Archive. www.climate.weatheroffice.ec. ga.ca Accessed January 2011.
Lower Nicola Indian Band. 2011. Community Profile. http://www.lnib.net/communityprofile.htm. Accessed January 2011.
Meidinger, D. and Pojar, J. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. 330 pp. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Srs/SRseries.htm
Ministry of Environment. Habitat Wizard. http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imf5/imf.jsp?site=moe_habwiz. Accessed January 2011.
Ministry of Environment, 1986. Soil Landscapes of British Columbia. Resource Analysis Branch, Victoria, BC
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources. iMap web mapping application & surficial geology mapping application. http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/ MapPlace/ MainMaps/Pages/default.aspx Accessed December 2010.
Ministry of Tourism. Archeology Branch. Province of British Columbia. http://www.tti.gov.bc.ca/archaeology/requesting_archaeological_site_information/process. htm. Accessed August 2010.
NTS 1:50000 Map Sheet 092I02.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR# 7 14
Valentine, K.W.G. & A.B. Dawson. 2008. The Soils Landscapes of BC. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Victoria, B.C. http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/ soils/landscape/ part3.html Accessed August 2010.
WRBC. 2008. BC Water Resource Atlas. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/data_searches /wrbc/index.html. Accessed January 2011.
Personal Communications
Bob Alexanruck. Division Manager. Ministry of Transportation. Merritt B.C. Regarding Diesel spill and gravel pit on Highway 5. Gloria and Geoff Sam. Resident of Hamilton IR #7. Regarding the structures onsite and the land use. Louise Ouelett. Environmental and Transmission and Distribution Department. Fortis BC. Vancouver B.C. Regarding records and locations of transformers and service dates. Peter Hughs. Director of Environmental Services. Thompson Nicola Regional District. Regarding Environmental Records. Sean O’Flaherty. Development Services Officer. City of Merritt. Merritt B.C. Regarding building permits on reserve or environmental issues. Toni Melliere. Environmental Division. Terasen Gas. Vancouver B.C. Requesting Environmental records and service dates for LNIB.
Lower Nicola Indian Band & INAC Phase I ESA Hamilton Creek IR# 7 15
APPENDIX A
FIGURES
RESERVE FOOTPRINT
Zoht IR14 Zoht IR5
Nicola Mameet CoquihallaZoht Highway (5) NOTES: IR1 IR4 Airphoto taken from Google Earth, December 2010 Nicola Nicola Highway (8) Lake Princeton-Kamloops Highway (5)
Speous IR8
Merritt Joeyaska IR2 Hamilton BC Princeton-Kamloops Highway (97C) Creek Figure 1 IR7 Site Location
LNIB / INAC Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Hamilton Creek IR #7 Coquihalla Highway (5)
10-0374
0 2 4 6 8 Kilometers Logan's January, 2011
IR6 SZ DS/DD RESERVE BOUNDARY
NOTES:
All elevations in metres (m) Reserve Locations of site features were taken Boundary from: 1. Aerial photographs 2. GPS data points, and 3. Visual observations / adjustments of Hamilton GPS waypoints and site features Creek IR 7
Figure 2 Site Plan
LNIB / INAC Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Hamilton Creek IR#7
10-0374
0 250 500 750 1000 Meters January, 2011
SZ DS/DD
APPENDIX B
BC ONLINE SITE REGISTRY RESULTS
APPENDIX C
CORRESPONDENCE
Hamilton IR #7 (Center 676511.03 5549605.09) – no sites within the IR boundaries but two just to the north. No AOA potential data for the area.
APPENDIX D
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
Photograph 1. 1948 Aerial Photograph BC 620-54 001
Photograph 2. 1960 Aerial Photograph A17191-77 001
Lower Nicola Indian Band- Hamilton IR #7 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Appendix D
Photograph 3. 1966 Aerial Photograph BC5186-67 001
Photograph 4. 1972 Aerial Photograph ASA 30518-15 001 Lower Nicola Indian Band- Hamilton IR #7 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Appendix D
Photograph 5. 1974 Aerial Photograph A37022-0275
Photograph 6. 1980 Aerial Photograph 15BC 80145-32 001 Lower Nicola Indian Band- Hamilton IR #7 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Appendix D
Photograph 6. 1991 Aerial Photograph 30BCC91052-50 001
Lower Nicola Indian Band- Hamilton IR #7 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Appendix D
APPENDIX E
POTENTIAL SPECIES AT RISK
Table B: BC CDC Search Results for Species within the Bunchgrass Ecosystem (CDC, 2010)1 Scientific Name English Name COSEWIC* BC List** Amphibians Spea intermontana Great Basin Spadefoot T (Apr 2007) Blue Western Painted Turtle - Intermountain - Chrysemys picta pop. 2 Rocky Mountain Population SC (Apr 2006) Blue Fish Acrocheilus alutaceus Chiselmouth NAR (May 2003) Blue Catostomus platyrhynchus Mountain Sucker NAR (May 1991) Blue Salvelinus confluentus Bull Trout Blue Reptiles Coluber constrictor Racer SC (Nov 2004) Blue Pituophis catenifer deserticola Gopher Snake, deserticola subspecies T (May 2002) Blue Crotalus oreganus Western Rattlesnake T (May 2004) Blue Birds Ardea herodias herodias Great Blue Heron, herodias subspecies Blue Buteo swainsoni Swainson's Hawk Red Falco mexicanus Prairie Falcon NAR (May 1996) Red Falco peregrinus anatum Peregrine Falcon, anatum subspecies SC (Apr 2007) Red Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane NAR (May 1979) Yellow Numenius americanus Long-billed Curlew SC (Nov 2002) Blue Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl SC (Mar 2008) Blue Athene cunicularia Burrowing Owl E (Apr 2006) Red Megascops kennicottii Western Screech-Owl, macfarlanei macfarlanei subspecies E (May 2002) Red Otus flammeolus Flammulated Owl SC (Apr 2010) Blue Melanerpes lewis Lewis's Woodpecker T (Apr 2010) Red Sphyrapicus thyroideus Williamson's Sapsucker, thyroideus thyroideus subspecies E (May 2005) Red
Scientific Name English Name COSEWIC* BC List** Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher T (Nov 2007) Blue Eremophila alpestris merrilli Horned Lark, merrilli subspecies Blue Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Blue Catherpes mexicanus Canyon Wren NAR (May 1992) Blue Oreoscoptes montanus Sage Thrasher E (Nov 2000) Red Chondestes grammacus Lark Sparrow Red Spizella breweri breweri Brewer's Sparrow, breweri subspecies Red Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink T (Apr 2010) Blue Euphagus carolinus Rusty Blackbird SC (Apr 2006) Blue Mammals Perognathus parvus Great Basin Pocket Mouse Red Corynorhinus townsendii Townsend's Big-eared Bat Blue Euderma maculatum Spotted Bat SC (May 2004) Blue Myotis ciliolabrum Western Small-footed Myotis Blue Myotis thysanodes Fringed Myotis DD (May 2004) Blue Gulo gulo luscus Wolverine, luscus subspecies SC (May 2003) Blue Martes pennanti Fisher Blue Taxidea taxus American Badger E (May 2000) Red Ursus arctos Grizzly Bear SC (May 2002) Blue Ovis canadensis Bighorn Sheep Blue Invertebrates Stylurus olivaceus Olive Clubtail Red Hesperia nevada Nevada Skipper Blue Pholisora catullus Common Sootywing Blue Satyrium californica California Hairstreak Blue Danaus plexippus Monarch SC (Apr 2010) Blue Promenetus umbilicatellus Umbilicate Sprite Blue Vallonia cyclophorella Silky Vallonia Blue Hemphillia camelus Pale Jumping-slug Blue Vascular Plants Azolla mexicana Mexican mosquito fern T (Nov 2008) Red Scientific Name English Name COSEWIC* BC List** Dryopteris cristata crested wood fern Blue Ophioglossum pusillum northern adder's-tongue Blue Agoseris lackschewitzii pink agoseris Blue Arabis lignifera woody-branched rockcress Blue Arabis sparsiflora sickle-pod rockcress Red Astragalus lentiginosus freckled milk-vetch Blue Atriplex argentea ssp. argentea silvery orache Red Atriplex truncata wedgescale orache Red Castilleja cusickii Cusick's paintbrush Red Centaurium exaltatum western centaury Red Chamaerhodos erecta ssp. nuttallii American chamaerhodos Blue Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia thyme-leaved spurge Blue Chenopodium atrovirens dark lamb's-quarters Red Crepis atribarba ssp. atribarba slender hawksbeard Red Crepis modocensis ssp. modocensis low hawksbeard Red Crepis modocensis ssp. rostrata western low hawksbeard Red Epilobium halleanum Hall's willowherb Blue Gaura coccinea scarlet gaura Red Gayophytum humile dwarf groundsmoke Blue Hackelia diffusa spreading stickseed Blue Hedeoma hispida mock-pennyroyal Red Hutchinsia procumbens hutchinsia Blue Hypericum scouleri ssp. nortoniae western St. John's-wort Blue Iva axillaris poverty-weed Red Scientific Name English Name COSEWIC* BC List** Leptosiphon septentrionalis northern linanthus Blue Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus silvery lupine Red Lupinus bingenensis var. subsaccatus Suksdorf's lupine Red Mimulus breviflorus short-flowered monkey-flower Red Myriophyllum ussuriense Ussurian water-milfoil Blue Navarretia intertexta needle-leaved navarretia Red Polygonum polygaloides ssp. kelloggii Kellogg's knotweed Blue Pyrola elliptica white wintergreen Blue Salix boothii Booth's willow Blue Salix tweedyi Tweedy's willow Blue Sidalcea oregana var. procera Oregon checker-mallow Red Sphaeralcea coccinea scarlet globe-mallow Red Allium geyeri var. tenerum Geyer's onion Blue Carex hystericina porcupine sedge Blue Carex sychnocephala many-headed sedge Blue Cyperus squarrosus awned cyperus Blue Epipactis gigantea giant helleborine SC (May 1998) Blue Hesperostipa spartea porcupinegrass Red Juncus confusus Colorado rush Red Melica spectabilis purple oniongrass Blue Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum satinflower Red Poa fendleriana ssp. fendleriana mutton grass Red Sphenopholis obtusata prairie wedgegrass Red Sporobolus compositus var. compositus rough dropseed Blue Scientific Name English Name COSEWIC* BC List** Stuckenia vaginata sheathing pondweed Blue Non Vascular Plants Bryoerythrophyllum columbianum Columbian carpet moss SC (May 2004) Blue Microbryum vlassovii nugget moss E (Nov 2006) Red Pterygoneurum kozlovii alkaline wing-nerved moss T (Nov 2004) Red * SC=Special Concern; T=Threatened; E=Endangered; XT=extirpated ** Blue= of special concern, Red= extirpated, endangered or threatened in British Columbia